Help understanding a reference

[Mark Plant]

Hi all, but especially Cuprum,

I've been sorting some stuff out about the Yekaterinoslav March of late 1918 for Pygmy Wars and I have been unable to work out what is happening in one piece of text. The defenders are behind a stone wall with loopholes and the attackers (in "chain" formation) are getting nearer.

И вот, когда казалось, что всякая надежда потеряна и ближайшие цепи перебегали в 250-300 шагах от нас и кое-кто уже стал прилаживать к ноге веревочные петли, чтобы в нужный последний момент привязать к спуску, вдруг грохнул пушечный выстрел.

And so, when it seemed that all hope was lost and the nearest chains were 250-300 paces away from us and some had already started to fit nooses (rope loops) on their feet/legs in order to allow a drop/release at the right moment.

Does anyone have any idea why they would be putting nooses on their feet?

[Dr Mathias]

Following to hear the answer

[cuprum]

This description is composed in such a way that it is difficult to interpret it unambiguously. I assume that we are talking about some kind of improvised device for descent from a height. Something like this:

[Mark Plant]

That's what I had thought at first, thanks Cuprum, but it is very odd. I wondered if there was some old Russian idiom or proverb that had escaped me.

The defenders were surrounded, so I don't think it is a reference to running away. Given they were White officers, for suicide if over-run?

Would a rural Russian estate or postal station of 1918 have walls so high that they needed to be scaled by ropes?

[cuprum]

That's what the lack of information for understanding)))
Yes, we are talking about a method of suicide. The rifle at that time was long enough, and in order to be able to shoot from it at yourself, you had to use some kind of device. In this case, a rope loop draped over the trigger of the rifle.

[Mark Plant]

Yes, that makes sense. Thanks.